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Jaisalmer
Fort, Rajasthan
 Jaisalmer
Fort, 1156 A.D., built by Rawal Jaisal, which crowns the 80m
highTrikuta hill, has its outer wall of palaces, houses and
temples of soft yellow sandstone. It has narrow winding lanes
and four huge gateways, the last one leading to main chowk
dominated by the old palace of the Maharwal. Almost one quater
of the town's population resides inside the fort.
How
to reach there:
Air: There
are flights between Jaisalmer and Delhi via Jodhpur.
Road:
There are buses operating at regular intervals for:
-
Jodhpur.
- Bikaner.
-
Barmer.
-
Udaipur.
Accomodations:
- Jawahar
Niwas Palace.
-
Narayan Niwas Palace.
-
Mandir Palace.
-
Hotel Jaisal Castle.
What
to see:
- It
has 99 bastions around its circumference, some of which
still bear canons.
- Attractions
within the fort walls are a group of beautifully carved
Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th century.
- Gyan
Bhandar, the library containing Jain manuscripts, paintings
and astrological charts is also in the temple complex.
- The
city's real showpieces are its Havelis ( beautiful mansions
built by wealthy merchants),the Patwon Ki Haveli, most
prominent, is elaborate and magnificent of all with exquisitively
carved pillars and extensive corridors and chambers.
- Salim
Singh ki Haveli, is 300 years old of Jaisalmer’s
Prime Minster to Maharaja Rawal Gaj Singh and named after
him, with beautiful blue cupola roof and superbly carved
brackets in the form of peacocks. Built in yellow stone
it is covered with intricate carvings and has an elaborate
projecting balcony on the top storey.
-
Nathmal ki Haveli built in the 19th century
was also house to the prime minister. Yellow sandtone
elephants guard the building, and even the front door
is a work of art.
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